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my favorite reads of 2025
30
items the top books I have read this year! (so far!) from thrillers, romance, memoirs, and more!
Sections
6
Thrillers
Romance
Literary fiction
Memoir
Non-fiction
Horror
Thrillers
4.5⭐️
This was so good! I can’t believe it sat on my tbr for so long! It was super dark and twisted. Very fast paced and kept me guessing until the end. I had some theories that were right and some that were wrong but overall it threw me for quite t...
The Butcher by Jennifer Hillier, Paperback
If Charlie Donlea writes it then you know I’m going to not only read it but I’m also going to love it. First off thank you so much Charlie Donlea and Kensington Books for the early release and gifted copy of Guess Again. When it came in the mail I li...
Guess Again: 9781496753960: Donlea, Charlie: Books
Five star thriller alert! I just finished this in less than 24 hours because I literally could not put it down. I spent my entire day reading this page turning thriller. I have come here to say that this is Mary Kubica’s best book yet! I was hooked f...
It's Not Her: A Novel eBook : Kubica, Mary: Books
This was great! I have complete whiplash it was such a mindfuck!! I had no idea where this story was going or how it would all come together in the end but it sure did. I love a thriller that takes me by surprise and truly stumps me. I actually said ...
Don't Tell Me How to Die: A Novel
4 stars! Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the advanced copy of All Because of You by Lissa Lovik. First off, I can't believe this was a debut novel! It felt like I was reading a very seasoned author's work. I love thrillers and re...
All Because of You: A Novel by Lissa Lovik
4 stars! Many thanks to MIRA Books, The Hive, and NetGalley for the gifted copy of First Wife’s Shadow. I really loved this one! It was a twisted and unique thriller. The twists kept on coming in the last 25% of the book and I really did not see a few of them...
First Wife's Shadow by Adele Parks, Paperback
5 glowing stars! First of all I can’t believe this was a debut!!! I totally loved it right from the start. It was incredibly fast paced and gave me complete and utter whiplash. Any thriller that throws me for a loop and has me questioning not only the characters but...
The Business Trip: A Novel by Jessie Garcia, Hardcover
5 star thriller!! This is the thriller I’ve been waiting for. WOW. The entire book had me in a complete chokehold. It was incredibly fast paced and well structured. I loved the podcast element to it. I suggest going in pretty blind to this one - I di...
Tell Me What You Did: A Novel by Carter Wilson, Paperback
4.5⭐️ Thank you NetGalley, Megan Collins, and Atria books for the advanced copy of Cross My Heart. I really loved this one! It was so good and locked me in from the very beginning. When I got to the end of part one I audibly said “WHAT” to myself. I ...
Cross My Heart: A Novel by Megan Collins, Hardcover
5 stars This was a DEBUT??? wow! What a thrilling read that had me actually looking over my shoulder while reading. This was an exceptional thriller that kept me on my toes throughout the entire book. I really did not have this one figured out. The b...
Night Watcher by Daphne Woolsoncroft, Hardcover
4.5 stars Omg I loved this one!! Thank you so much Sourebooks and NetGalley for my gifted copy! Run to your tbr and add this twisted thriller to the list! It comes out 8/5! This was better than I had anticipated. I did not figure the twists out and i...
The Dead Husband Cookbook by Danielle Valentine, Hardcover
5 stars Cannot stop reading this series! It’s SO GOOD! Another five star read in the books! Book 2 was just as addicting and fast paced as book 1. Twisted and diabolical until the very end. I love these characters and detective team so much I cannot ...
The Executioner
5 stars I don’t give out five stars for thrillers unless it really wow’s me and wow did this one WOW me. I can’t believe I just discovered this author and his amazing series but I am so glad that I did. This book was incredible. I loved the character...
The Crucifix Killer: the CHILLING first novel in the Robert Hunter series
5 stars The five star read I needed!!! I finished this one in one day because I just could not put it down! It’s no surprise when I absolutely loved Lindsey Acosta’s first book Kept in the Dark. This one was crime fiction at its finest - a chilling a...
House of Monsters (Moretti and Reid Book 1)
5 stars I loved this one! It’s definitely my favorite by Samantha Downing out of the books I have read by her. I absolutely loved the plot , premise , and the dark humor. It kept me thoroughly entertained until the last page. I had trouble putting it...
Too Old for This by Samantha Downing, Hardcover
4 stars Many thanks to Celadon Books and NetGalley for my gifted physical and digital copy of Best Offer Wins. All opinions are my own. I loved this one! It was twisted, deliciously dark, and filled with satirical comedy that was delivered just right...
Books - Best Offer Wins: A Novel: Kashino, Marisa
Romance
5 stars I can’t believe it took me this long to read this book. I smiled and I cried. My heart felt every emotion that these characters had felt throughout the entire book. I absolutely loved the dual timeline of past and present to see how Macy and ...
Love And Other Words - By Christina Lauren ( Paperback )
4.5 stars This made my heart so happy. As the occasional romance reader with not the greatest track record when it comes to dating I often find myself feeling like a lot of romance is cringy and not relatable. This was everything I absolutely love in...
It's a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan, Paperback
4.75 stars I loved this one SO much. The characters and love story was amazing. No one writes real romance quite like Devney Perry. I loved everything about this one - it was fast paced, realistic, full of love and just everything I look for in a rom...
Merit (Treasure State Wildcats Book 4) eBook
4.5 stars Wow what a beautiful story this was. I got choked up a few times while reading. The way the author wove together the past and present was done so incredibly well. When Lily’s husband Adam is at the end of his life he makes his wife make him...
Always You and Me by Dani Atkins, Paperback
4.5 stars I absolutely loved this one! It was by far one of my favorites of this series. I love these characters so much. I enjoyed that it was about two mature people who really strived for a healthy relationship. Every now and then I’m a sucker for...
Wicked Serve: A Novel by Grace Reilly, Paperback
5 stars When I first read this book fifteen years ago I cried. When I watched the movie I cried. When I read it now fifteen years later I cried again. This has always been one of my favorite Nicholas Sparks books/movies. Now reading it in my late twe...
The Last Song - Nicholas Sparks
5 stars I absolutely loved this one! It was my favorite so far in the series - I can’t wait to read the final book but sad it’s ending. I’m not usually a romance reader but this one had me in my feels. I loved the characters , their story, growth, ju...
Rally (Treasure State Wildcats Book 3)
4 stars An ending that gave me chills. This book packs quite the emotional punch. I got choked up a couple of times while reading. I’m so glad I listened to this on audio I feel like the audio narration was beautiful and made the reading experience e...
Atmosphere: A Love Story (GMA Book Club Pick)
Literary fiction
5 stars WOW EXCELLENT. This will definitely be a top contender for my favorite book of 2025. It was beautifully written and incredibly captivating. I loved the characters, the setting, the plot - everything was just phenomenal. This book was almost 5...
Long Bright River by Liz Moore, Paperback
Memoir
5 stars WOW! What an incredible memoir. This has made it's way to my top memoirs of all time. I went in pretty blind not knowing much about Julia Fox other than she was in Uncut Gems and enjoys watching Bravo shows. (she was just on Watch What Happen...
Books - Down the Drain: Fox, Julia
5 stars This was an incredible memoir and definitely one of my favorites I’ve read so far. I usually don’t rate non fiction but I had to give this the five star rating that it deserves. I learned so much throughout listening to this beautiful memoir ...
From Here to the Great Unknown (Oprah's Book Club)|Hardcover
Non-fiction
5 stars I usually don’t rate non fiction but this one deserves 5 glowing stars! Everyone should read this book and I mean EVERYONE. Whichever season of life you are in or want to be in I feel like this book could be used as an amazing tool to help en...
The Let Them Theory: Life-Changing Tool
loved this one!
Signs: The Secret Language of the Universe by Laura Lynne Jackson ...
Horror
4 stars What a fun pallet cleanser. This was honestly hilarious and kept me entertained from start to finish. If you enjoy scary movies I highly recommend reading this one! It’s fast paced , has likeable characters, and will make you feel like you’re...
Help! I'm Stuck In A 90's Slasher Movie eBook